Weather or Not

It’s not exactly groundbreaking, but it does support conventional wisdom. A study of U.S. churchgoers examined reasons some give for skipping church services.

Whether or not they attend is based on… well, whether there’s weather or not.

A whopping 77% say that they skip out on attending church at least once a year, if not many times a year, due to weather. 43% have stayed home simply because it’s raining. The weather plays a role in the second most common reason for skipping out – when it’s particularly nice weather. 55% will take advantage of a Sunday morning away from the pews to enjoy an outdoor activity when the weather is pleasant.

To round out the survey, 54% have passed on church due to getting some extra sleep, 50% to meet a friend or group of friends, and 42% to watch a favorite team or sporting event.

But without a doubt, weather is the primary shaper of attendance.

Again, not particularly eye-opening.

But it will make church leaders a bit more weather-aware.

James Emery White

Sources

Aaron Earls, “Weather Most Likely Reason for Churchgoers Skipping Services,” Lifeway Research, July 12, 2023, read online.

About the Author

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.

The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Christian Headlines.

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The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of CrosswalkHeadlines.

James Emery White is the founding and senior pastor of Mecklenburg Community Church in Charlotte, NC, and a former professor of theology and culture at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also served as their fourth president. His latest book, Hybrid Church: Rethinking the Church for a Post-Christian Digital Age, is now available on Amazon or from your favorite bookseller. To enjoy a free subscription to the Church & Culture blog, visit churchandculture.org where you can view past blogs in our archive, read the latest church and culture news from around the world, and listen to the Church & Culture Podcast. Follow Dr. White on X, Facebook and Instagram at @JamesEmeryWhite.